The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1887-10-27

Of second growth trees climb the
ABRUPT hill, leaving the little strin oi
meadow beneath to look out for it.
self. ava ~
The door of tho switch shAnt5
stands open. Inside yoint woman
vas busily engaged with Knit Tine work
~. az answer - i question if this is
..s swaecn ANNIE bright. comely face,
o.vnzeo Dy summer sun to g. color
wnlcn an Atlantic City bather would
envy Is projected from behind the
door, and an affirmative reply, accom-:
panied by smile thas reveals two
rows OF white. even teeth, is given.
IL was the first glimpse OF sunshine
That day. had pictured q tall. raw
ooned, stolid-featured amazon. in
whom muscular development had
checked all other. found q plump.
comedy young woman. with & ,un.
shiny face and modest manner.
C1ear-headed, intelligent, quick. witted,
nut calm and Observation-Disclosures
an enjoyable picture of strong, health.
lui womanhood. In stature Annie is
= 4lttle above average height, with a
plump we:l.formed figure and q
snaPe'y head firmly poised on a pair
OF shoulders a duchess might envv.
oroad. straw hat coquettishly pin.
neo up on one side shades the round
lace. The hands which ply the knit.
tlng-needles are brown aid calloused.
colors with broad-toed low.heeied
waking shoes, built for service and
no. for show, completed the picture.
r At the time of my visit Annie was
receiving a call from her uncle, him.
self q railroad man, and to whom I
am indebted for many facts in rela-
ton to this remarkable Qirl.
After the first slight reserve had
worn of, Annie talked freely in regard
to herself and her work.
How long have I been throwing
switches?" she said in reply to a ques-
ton: "About twelve years. How
did commence? Well, when father
was first given this place there were
only two switches to look after. Then
business began increasing and more
switches were put in. That made 1T
hard for him but he got along until he
had to be out nights. OF course then
he had to get some sleep in the day.
time. SO my sister, four years older
than fused to come out nd tend the
switches when father was asleep. After
wardshe went to learn telegraphing and
when l came from school / used to
help father. | was spry and guess I
learned quick; anyway gave good
satisfaction, and was finally put on
as an assistant when the number of
switches increased. At first received
$25 a month, then $50 and $35; one
month l received Forty, but was after
ward put back to thirty
five. That was my wages until
father was killed. Then they gave me
his place. now get $40 a month,
with house rent and fuel. NV hours
are from 6 in the morning until in
the evening. In the summer l have
every other Sunday of. but in the fall
and winter must work every Sunday"
"You do not have much time for
recreation?"
mo; that's the hardest thing about
the work. When see every one else
going out Sunday to have g. good time
and / have to work, 1t breaks my
heart" The words were 70 flowed
by CHEEKY laugh that little indicated
q damaged anatomay.
Do not imagine ali this CONVERSE
ton was carried on uninterruptedlv.
All the time Annie was g,ancing up
and down the track, keeping q sharp
lookout for trains, while her nimble
fingers piled the knitting needles on
what was to be q warm mitten for
winter wear. Suddenly. in the midst
OF sentence, she would start up, seize
a pair OF gauntlet gloves lying
on the window ledge, and
step out to throw a switch or
signal that all was clear. There was
nothing OF rush about her movements;
while quick, they were collected and
showed a cool, well-balanced head.
l referred 20 this once when she
came in, and asked ifshe never became
excited or nervous when several trains
requiring to be switched on different
tracks were arriving in quick success
sion.
20 no; fifty trains would not make
me nervous" was the calm reply. II
have a cool head. When many trains
are coming, 'tend to the main line
and transfer switches end let the 9th
ers wait, or leave them for the switch
men to look AFTER"
"Of how many switches have you
charee!'
eleven now. For a. time before
father was killed we had fifteen. They
are the most important switches in
the yard. 1t was much harder work
for me then than now. Father was 80
easy to get excited, and then he would
forget. had to watch him and do
my own work besides. Now l have
only myself to look AFTER"
"Do you not often get tired OF the
"Wel), I'm not dead struck on it,
and would take another job too quick
IT could get it," Annie occasionally
drops into slang. "But l have been
brought up to the work, and there's
nothing else could do where could
earn as much. Sometimes ladies talk
to me and some say they would not
do it for anything, and others again
praise me. / don't know which are
right. All know is that l am used
to the switches and don't mind, ex-
cept at times"
L TIC IOIIo VI VOICe WdS Cn6erIul, al.
though quiet, and the words came as
the conviction arrived at after a care
ful weighing OF all the advantages and
disadvantages.
do you not suffer from cold in the
winter
20 yes, sometimes. The wind has
such a sweep here; but dodge in and
out of the shanty, If it is only for q
minute to warm my fingers. The
cold 1 don't mind so much as the
heat. These tracks draw the sun so.
It is very hot here at times, and then
I have awful headaches"
"You don't give up?'
II can't; there's no one to take my
place." was the quiet reply.
"Does your sister practice telegraphy
now7"
''No; she was taken sick; then moth
er was sick and needed someone to
help her with the housekeeping"
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